Saturday, January 19, 2013

52 Questions

This is the year I turn 52.In honor of that, I'm taking part in the blog-thing that's going around now, answering these 52 questions:1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

No.

There is no Jane and no Marlene anywhere in my family's history.

Nor was there a famous or previously known Jane or Marlene that was the inspiration behind my name.

My name had no baggage or expectations attached to it.

I could be me. Because my name was uniquely chosen for me.

It is not now, nor has it ever been, a popular name.

And it's only right this minute, while I'm thinking about this, and delighting in the fact that my parents were creative in naming me, that I wonder about the wisdom of naming my sons after bad-ass movie stars and their father/grandfathers/great grandfathers.

Sorry boys.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

The last time I sobbed was Nov 26 at the doctor's office after my first 4 hour shift at my new job. He was alarmed by the intensity, and gave me a month's free supply of anti-depressants. I haven't sobbed since.

(Although... I did shed a few private tears, due to hurt feelings, on Dec 25.

And on Dec 31, watching Parental Guidance with my mom at the Colossus, a few whimpy tears escaped.

But other than that? I am in control of my tear ducts.)

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

If I have the right pen. The right paper. And my arm is relaxed. And the angle is right. And the circumstances are perfect, then yes, I like my handwriting.

I like my mom's better, though.

Her's is a work of art.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT?

Turkey.

Real turkey that's been leftover from a real turkey meal.

Or tuna, with melted cheddar cheese on it.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Three absolutely outstanding sons.And through them, I will become the lucky mom of three beautiful, kind, wonderful daughters.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Oh sure. I'm hilarious.

And available.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

It's my second language.

It has been a life long struggle to keep the sarcasm in check. Just because it's my first response, doesn't mean I have to say those words.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Yes.

But my gallbladder is missing.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Planning to. 60th Birthday. Who wants to join me?

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

With milk? Special K

Without milk? Cap'n Crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

What kind of craziness is that?

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

Physically? Hahahaha. Oh. So very NO.

In other ways? (Mentally, spiritually, etc) Yes.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

One scoop of raspberry and one scoop of Mango gelato.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

Are they heavier or lighter than me?

Are they wearing a wedding ring?

15. RED OR PINK?

Pink.

Always pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

My size.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

I miss the pre-dementia. pre-stroke version of my dad.

I miss having someone I love living with me.

18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?

I didn't know how to answer this question, so I googled, "What is the technique I need to work on the most?" and all of the answers/sites that came up were activty -related:

Snowboarding

Weight-lifting

Running

Mountain biking

Ceramic surfacing

Waterboarding

... and this does not help ME answer this questions, because I am not an activity-driven person.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Furry slippers.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Left-over ham and scalloped potatoes. I made them on Wednesday night, and am still living off the leftovers.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Silence.

I never think to put on music.

Maybe because I don't have a decent speaker system.

And I'm not from the generation that walks around with ear buds in 24/7.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

A bright cheerful blend of blue and green resulting in a vivid, deep, rich turquoise.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Citrus blossoms.

Orange.

24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU?

Non-existent.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?

Depends on location. And season.

A beach house in Alaska in winter would just be dumb.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Only sport to watch: Canucks' live. Although, watching Danica play soccer was pretty fun. So I'll add that to my answer.

27. HAIR COLOR?

Mostly blonde. Mostly real.

28. EYE COLOR?

Not brown.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

No.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?

I don't like curry.

Or green beans.

Everything else is my favorite.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

It doesn't have to have a happy ending. But it needs at least one scene where he looks into her eyes and I melt.

Or, if it's not a 'him 'n her' type movie, then there has to be some great relational connections in it.

It is my opinion that scary movies are not built around story-lines where love grows. So I don't watch them.

At home on DVD? Pride and Prejudice last night at 3 am. I needed to hear Mr. Darcy say, "You have bewitched me, body and soul. And I love, love, love you."

But even more than that I needed to SEE him fall in love with Elizabeth.

Watching a man fall in love is a beautiful thing, both on the screen and especially in real life.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Blue. It brings out the colour of my non-brown eyes.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Summer. Summer. Summer. and Summer.But I am a minority in my family about this (and a slew of other things.) My snowboarding sons, wait all year for winter.

35. FAVORITE DESSERT?

Chocolate cake with Amoretto Cream Cheese Whipped Cream icing.

Or Raspberry/Mango gelato.

36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?

heh. heh heh. Funny.

37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?

For the past few years it's been computer.

But since November it's been TV.

38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Emma by Jane Austen. For my book club meeting on Monday. It's torture. So many words. So little action. Especially in comparison to the 26 hours I've spent watching Robin Hood outwit the Sheriff of Nottingham, while falling in love with Marion. (Thanks Mandi for the introduction.)

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley because a sweet girl bought it for me for Christmas. So far, I'm loving it.

39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Seriously. How old is this questionaire?

40. FAVORITE SOUND?

My kids coming through the front door.

Someone saying, "hi mom".

41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?

Anything not sucky.

Mostly I like music that has meaning and brings me joy.

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Austria.

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

Not one.(Unless you consider being a rodent-magnet a special talent.)

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Grace Hospital, Vancouver. (Boring question.)(Or maybe it's just that I have a boring answer.)

45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?

Same place I was last year at this time, much to my surprise. I thought FOR SURE that God was telling me to move on.

46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?

Dark brown stucco with black doors.

Which is a vast improvement over it's appearance when I bought it. Twas peach with white doors.(Another boring question.)

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?

White. I love it. (Oy vey. Another boring question that doesn't inspire great answers. I'm going to make up my own questions for the last 4.)

48. WHAT DATE WILL YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER FROM 2012 AND WHY?

My mom, Jule and I talk about last year in terms of before Feb 20, and after - as that was the date that dad went into the hospital and never went home again. Our worlds changed then too.

MARCH 27. Max's ONE YEAR CLEAN DATE. A huge happy day in my life.

Then, there was May 1 - my last day at Arrow. Sigh. I thought that was going to be my forever-until-I-retire job. God had other plans.

And of course, there was the June 9/10 weekend. Drew graduated, we got robbed, Drew moved out, and wow. Just. Like. That. My nest was empty.

And lastly? The date I will always remember? The American Thanksgiving Thursday. THAT was the day Focus offered me a job.

49. WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF 2012?Hmmmm. If you'd asked me this in the Spring, I would've said it (the challenging part) was figuring out how to juggle my time to include allocating 20 hours a week to visiting my dad. In the summer? I would've said it (the challenging part) was figuring out how to live alone and not be a mom anymore. But at the end of the fall? It (the most challenging part) was definitely accepting the fact that God had chosen a FULL TIME, STRESSFUL, S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G job for me. Oy. Oh the drama. Oh the wailing. Oh the ... oh nevermind. Not my finest hour. Let's leave it at that.50. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEARN TO DO THIS YEAR?Whistle LOUD by placing a finger or two in my mouth, so I can contribute to the "MAKE A NOISE" part of the Canuck's home games.51. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU PURCHASED?Besides groceries and toiletries?Roses for my kitchen table and tulips for all the girls in the Creative Services Department.

52. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 52 QUESTIONS?

Probably way more than you enjoy reading them.Seriously. I never met a questionaire I didn't like.

3 comments:

Thought I'd answer a few, just cuz.1. Named after the actress Kim Novak, because my mom thought she had a lovely ponytail in one of her movies. Mom was a real ponytail connoisseur back then.5. Mom of four plus one son-in-law and one daughter-in-law. All of them are people I love to hang out with, so all in all the motherhood thing has gone pretty well.6. I'd be friends with me, though I'd have to stop myself from rolling my eyes sometimes.7. Sarcasm- I have an alarming talent for it, which I am trying to rein in,19. Wearing a pair of old flip flops with white socks which make me look like I'm turning Japanese and provokes comments from everyone who sees this special fashion combo.27. Hair colour- yes32. Movie- Les Mis, the Hobbit, Skyfall. Let me know how Quartet goes.37. Computer (iPad) in front of tv.38. Almost finished Emma. Like it, but at the beginning all I could think was that she must have gotten paid by the word. So many words.44. I was born at Grace Hospital too, and given the proximity of our birth dates, your Mom probs bumped into my mom and me as she was entering and we were leaving.46,47. Very stereotypically suburban- white vinyl siding house with a red minivan in front.51. Purse from Costco.

That is more than I thought I would do and more than you ever wanted to know.Kim

So, we may have met, briefly, in passing, in May of '61 (my mom was in labour with me for 48 hours)?

Very cool.

Please get rid of the socks or flipflops. You are classier than that. Yes, you are.

Thanks for playing along. See you Monday. (It's highly unlikely I will have finished the book, so I will be the silent one, in the corner, eating foil-wrapped chocolates, not allowed to participate in the conversation.)